Faucet for beer and other carbonated beverages.



R. W. TAYLOR. FAUOET FOR BEER ANDOTHER CARBONATED BEVERAGES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1906.

'WYTNESSES 7 A iiarneys THE "meals PETERS ca wnsumcram'm PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907 ROBERT W. TAYLOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FAUGET FOR BEER AND OTHER CARBONATED BEVERAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 24, 1 907.

Application filed April 7. 1906. Serial No. 310,539.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT W. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Faucets for Beer and other Carbonated Beverages, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in faucets for beer and other carbonated beverages and particularly contemplates a device in which means are provided for equalizing the pressure at the source of liquid supply in order that the liquid in the pipes when the apparatus is not in use, may be allowed to return by gravity to the source of supply.

Heretofore in the art as jknown, when it has been necessary to stop using the carbonating apparatus over night, a certain amount of liquid has remained in the cooling coils and pipes leading from the same. Liquids such as beer and ale, which depend for their life upon carbonization, become stale and flat in a very short period of time when left in the cooling coils and hence, are unfit for use when it is desired to again employ the carbonating apparatus.

It is a consideration of the present invention to eliminate the objections above noted in this class of devices, and to this end the invention particularly comprises means for equalizing the gas pressure at the source of liquid supply in order that the liquid in the cooling coils may return by gravity to the storage vessel, which is of any suitable character, and be there preserved in a fresh condition, during the period of time that the carbonating apparatus is not in use.

In connection with the above means for attaining the primary function of the invention, means are provided for discharging any surplusage of gas from the liquid supply pipe, when it is desired to open the supply after the carbonating apparatus has been out of use for a limited period.

The detailed construction will appear in the course of the following description in which reference is had to the accom anying drawings forming a part of this speci ication, like numerals designating like parts throughout the several views, wherein,

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section showing the liquid dispensing valve in its closed position and establishing communication between an auxiliary gas supply pipe and a liquid supply pipe, Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the valve in another position, in which communication is established between the liquid supply pipe and gas discharge ports, the valve and valve casing, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the valve plug.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I employ a faucet comprising a valve casing 5 and a valve or key 6 of the "turning plug type mounted therein and retained in position by a nut 9 threaded upon an extension 9 of the valve 6. The valve casing 5 embodies a liquid supply pipe 7 designed to have connection with a suitable conductor. Threaded into the upper portion of the valve casing 5, is a pipe 8 of considerably less diameter than the liquid supply pipe 7. The pipe 8 serves as an auxiliary gas supply pipe and it communicates in one position of the valve 6, as shown in Fig. 1, with an inclined passage 10 leading to the central beverage opening 13 in the valve 6. A port 14 establishes communication between the central beverage opening 13 and the li uid supply pipe 7 in the closed position of t e valve as illustrated in Fig. 1, whereby the gas admitted from the pipe 8 may flow through the passage 10 and ports 13 and 14 into the liquid supply pipe.

When it is desired that the gas be discharged from the supply pipe 7, the valve 6 is moved to another position whereby the pipe 8 and passage 10 and the port 14 and pipe 7, are respectively out of registry. In the position of the valve illustrated in Fig. 2, the liquid supply pipe 7 and the branch passage 16 formed in the casing 5 and leading at an incline from said pipe 7 are in communication With a passage 17 in the lower portion of the valve 6 which extends towards a central point in said valve and then following the direction of its longitudinal axis, communicates with the exterior at the base of the extension 9.

In operation, it is assumed that the carbonating apparatus is temporarily out of use and that the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 1. In this period of time it is desired to return the liquid in the cooling coils to the storage reservoir. This is accomplished by equalizing the pressure in the main line. Gas from the pressure supply which communicates with the storage reservoir is introduced into the liquid supply pipe 7 from the pipe 8 and through the passages 10, 13 and 14. This operation equalizes the pressure in the main line, so that the liquid in the cooling coils returns by gravity to the storage reser- V011.

When it is desired to use the apparatus after the liquid has been. returned in the manner above described, it is first necessary to discharge the gas from the liquid supply pipe. This is effected by moving the valve a slight distance, approximately 15 degrees, to the position shown in Fig. 2, Wherein communication between the gas supply and liquid supply pipe is cut oil, but the discharge passage 17 is brought into registry With the passage 16 and liquid supply pipe '7. The gas egresses from the pipe 7 through the passage 17 and the liquid flows into the supply conductor and is ready to be drawn oil When the gas has been discharged through the passage 17 as above described. The liquid is then drawn oil by moving the valve so that the central beverage port 13 is in registry with the liquid supply pipe 7 and the spout,

at Which position the various other passages described Will be out of registry.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

In a faucet for beer and other carbonated beverages, the combination With a valve casing including a liquid supply pipe having a branch passage and a gas supply pipe, of a valve in said casing having a central beverage opening designed to be alined With said liquid supply pipe, a gas passage communieating With said beverage opening and designed to be alined with said gas supply pipe, a branch gas passage leading at an angle from said beverage opening to said liquid supply pipe, and a gas vent passage extending to the exterior of said valve and designed to be alined With said branch passage.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ROBERT TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

JOHN L. HOLLANDER, JOHN H. NOTLEY. 

